Songwriter and producer Luis Resto says other music scenes are more polished than Detroit, but that’s one reason why the Motor City is so special to him.
“Detroit has this street grit, what we call ‘stank,’” he says. “Which is good.”
Luis is perhaps best known for his work with Detroit rapper Eminem. He co-wrote the hit song, “Lose Yourself,” which won a Grammy and an Oscar in 2003.
From genres like jazz, to funk, to classical, Luis says there's a mix of different elements that defines the Detroit music sound.
"I find wherever I go, you don't get that type of pot stirred into one place," he says. "There's a certain ... straightness to both coasts that is not Detroit, and Detroit comes from the working man."
Last year, Luis formed his own band, "Luis Resto and the Holy Fools." The band has five members from all over the world — including France, Senegal and Iran — but who now all call Detroit home.
The band performs covers and songs written by Luis and he usually plays the keyboard or sings.
"I quite enjoy this from other projects that I've done," he says. "At other points in my life I've been very guarded of, 'I gotta do my thing.' This is not that — it's a more open forum."
You can hear the distinct world music flavor of "Luis Resto and the Holy Fools" tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building at Interlochen Center for the Arts. The concert is free and open to the public. The group also has a show at The Workshop Brewing Company in Traverse City, Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
